A socio-economic and quality-oriented optimal fruit supply chain network design in a multi-market and multi-product environment: A real case study

Abstract

This paper focuses on developing an optimal sustainable fruit Closed-Loop Supply Chain (CLSC). A novel multi-objective Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model is suggested to formulate a multi-product, multi-market, multi-period, multi-level, multi-mode selling problem which aims to minimize cost and emissions and maximize the whole social segments’ responsiveness to fruit, vinegar, and compost. The model is solved by the LP-metric method and implemented in a real case in Iran. The findings indicate that achieving the highest level of responsiveness comes with a substantial cost for the network. However, this does not apply to environmental considerations. For decision-makers prioritizing sustainability, the proposed decision support system strongly advises against buying fruit from fruit cars. Due to the absence of positive impacts on the level of responsiveness, buying from fruit cars results in increased costs and emissions. For a cost- and environmentally-sensitive decision-maker, it is recommended to provide higher-quality fruits. Because the lower the quality of the fruit, leads to increased waste rates and emissions. Meeting increased vinegar demand, with its elevated costs and emissions, becomes justifiable only when the policymaker is actively seeking to achieve maximum responsiveness.